Combined clasp and ornament for necklaces



' Sept. 28, was

J. SPITZER 330,23 COMBINED CLASP AND ORNAMENT FOR NECKLACES Filed July 29. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOSEPH SPlTZER Sept. 28, 1965 J. SPITZER 3,208,238

COMBINED CLASP AND ORNAMENT FOR NECKLACES Filed July 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH SPITZER BY United States Patent s,20s,zss COMBINED CLASP AND ORNAMENT FQR NECKLAtlES Joseph Spitzer, 1548 SSvrdSh, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed July 29, 1963, Ser. No. 298,077 4 Claims. (Cl. 63-2) This invention concerns a combined clasp and ornament for necklaces.

Heretofore necklace clasps have generally been made of jewelry findings which have no particular ornamental features 01' which may even be somewhat unsightly. This is not objectionable when the clasp of a necklace is worn behind the neck and concealed by the hair of the wearer. For a person having short hair, the necklace clasp is exposed at the back of the neck. It has heretofore been recognized that a necklace clasp which is worn in an exposed position should have some ornamental features, but no provision has been made for easily and quickly changing the ornament of the clasp.

According to the present invention there is provided a clasp and ornament structure in which the pin of the brooch serves as part of the clasp of a necklace in such a manner that the pin can easliy be removed and interchanged with another. In addition, removal of the pin serves to open the clasp.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a novel ornamental clasp and ornament structure for a necklace.

Another object is to provide a necklace clasp with hinged clasp members in which a removable pin of an ornamental article serves to secure the clasp members together and the article serves to cover and conceal the clasp members.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is an elevational front view of an improved clasp and ornament shown disposed at the back of the neck of a person on a necklace.

FIG. 2 is an elevational front view of the clasp and ornament on an enlarged scale, with parts of an attached necklace.

FIG. 3 is an elevational rear view of the clasp and ornament and parts of the attached necklace.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the clasp, ornament and necklace.

FIG. 5 is a side view of parts of the clasp, ornament and necklace in partially closed position.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are sectional views on a enlarged scale taken on lines 6-6 and 7-7 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown the ornamental clasp and ornament assembly 10 including a pair of hinged clasp members 12, 14. Member 12 includes a generally rectangular plate 16 having a tubular sleeve 18 centrally located at one edge. The sleeve has an axial passage 19. At the opposite edge of the plate 16 there are holes 20 in which may be engaged rings 22 to which are secured ends of cords 23 of necklace strands 24. The strands may have pearl beads 25 or other ornamental beads or structures. The plate 16 has two rectangular notches 26 26 at opposite ends of sleeve 18. Inner edges 27 of these notches may be beveled. Two rectangular fingers 28 extend in thickness out of the plane of plate 16 and also extend longitudinaly beyond the beveled edges 27 of the notches 26 26 and beyond the sleeve 18; see FIGS. 4-7.

3,Z@8,238 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 Clasp member 14 has a generally rectangular plate 30 with two short axially aligned spaced sleeves 32 32 extending laterally outwardly of edge 31 of the plate at opposite ends of this edge. The sleeves have passages 32. The spacing of the sleeves is slightly greater than the length sleeve 18.

Edge 31 is beveled as clearly shown in FIG. 6. Two rectangular U-shaped recesses 33, 33 are formed in bosslike abutments 33, 33 on one side of plate 30 at opposite ends of edge 31. These recesses are open at the edge 31 to receive ends of fingers 28 respectively as best shown in FIGS. 5-7. At the opposite edge 34 of the plate 30 are holes 35 which may be engaged by rings or hooks 36. These rings are attached to opposite ends of cords 23 in the necklace strands 24.

As shown in FIGS. 36, sleeve 18 fits in between sleeves 32 32 in axial alignment therewith at beveled edges 27. A pin 38 of a brooch or other ornamental article 40 may be inserted through the aligned passages 19, 32' of the interfitted sleeves; see FIG. 5. The ornamental article comprises a circular cluster of metal cups 40 across which is a metal ribbon 41 with a loop 43 at one end. The pin 38 terminates in a loop 39 pivotally engaged on a pintle 41 of ears 42; see FIG. 4.. This ear is located at one end of the rear side 43 of the ornamental article 40. A catch element 44 is located at the other end of the rear side 43 of the ornament. This element 44 has a recess 45 and rotatable catch 46 which engages the pointed end 38 of pin 38.

In order to engage the pointed end of the pin, the clasp members 12, 14 are interlocked as shown in FIG. 5 with the openings in sleeves 18 and 32 in alignment. The pin 38 is inserted through the openings. The plates with the inserted pin are then bodily rotated or turned upwardly from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 2, and then catch 46 will be swung into engagement with the pointed end of the pin in recess 45. In this position of the clasp members the fingers 28 abut the side 43 of article 40 and prevent the clasp member 12 from pivoting thereat while pin 38 is engaged in the sleeves of the clasp members. This arrangement holds the clasp members flat against the rear side of the article 40. Thus the article 40 is supported at the back of neck N of wearer W with the ornament 40' exposed while the clasp members 12 and 14 are concealed. Only the flat sides of plates 16, 30 contact the wearers neck.

The strands 24 extend outwardly of the ornamental article 40 and around the wearers neck to hang down at the front in conventional fashion. When it is desired to take off the necklace, or to replace the article 40 with another one, or to replace the necklace with another one, catch 46 is disengaged from the end of pin 38. The pin with clasp members is rotated or swung outwardly of the catch element 44 and the clasp members 12,14 are moved longitudinally oif of the pin. This effects complete disengagement of the clasp members from each other and from the ornamental article. The clasp members can be engaged with pin 38 of another ornamental article, or the pin 38 of article 40 can be engaged with clasp members 12, 14 of another necklace. This complete interchangeability is very desirable and an important feature of the invention.

The hinged arrangement of the members 12,. 14 permits plates 16, 30 to pivot relatively to each other on pin 38 so as to allow the clasp members 12, 14 to conform to an irregularly shaped rear side of an ornamental article. The beveled edges of the plates facilitate this pivotal move ment of the plates.

The clasp members 12, 14 are preferably formed of metal by casting, punching, pressing, machining or other metal working methods well known in the jewelry finding art. They can be made of precious or base metals.

If desired, they can be made of tough plastic material such as nylon by various plastic molding methods known in the art.

In any case there will be provided, according to the invention, a clasp for a necklace which is secured by an interchangeable and replaceable ornamental pin or brooch.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A clasp and ornament for a necklace, comprising a pair of generally rectangular flat clasp members, one of said members having a first sleeve at one edge with a passage therethrough, a pair of movement limiting fingers extending in thickness out of one side of said one member and extending longitudinally beyond said sleeve; the other of said members having a pair of other sleeves at one edge thereof, said other sleeves being axially aligned with each other with axially aligned passages therethrough, said first sleeve being interfitted between said other sleeves, an ornamental article having a pin extending through the passages in the interfitted sleeves, a catch on one side of said article detachably engaging a free end of the pin projecting beyond the interfitted sleeves, whereby said ornamental article conceals said clasp members when said ornamental article is worn at the back of the neck of a person on a necklace with the clasp members juxtaposed to the persons neck, said fingers abutting the other member permitting relative movement of the members in one direction only, said members having holes at outer edges thereof, and a necklace having attaching means at opposite ends engaged in the holes in said members.

2. A clasp and ornament for a necklace, comprising a pair of generally rectangular fiat clasp members, one of said members having a first sleeve at one edge with a passage therethrough, a pair of movement limiting fingers extending in thickness out of one side of said one member and extending longitudinally beyond said sleeve; the other of said members having a pair of other sleeves at one edge thereof, said other sleeves being axially aligned with each other with axially aligned passages therethrough, said first sleeve being interfitted between said other sleeves, an ornamental article having a pin extending through the passages in the interfitted sleeves, a catch on one side of said article detachably engaging a free end of the pin projecting beyond the interfitted sleeves, said article being longer and wider than the engaged clasp members, whereby said article conceals said clasp members when said article is worn at the back of the neck of a person on a necklace with the clasp members juxtaposed to the persons neck, the edge of said members at said sleeves being beveled to facilitate pivotable movement of the members with respect to each other, said fingers abutting the other member permitting relative movement of the members in one direction only.

3. A clasp and ornament for a necklace, comprising a pair of generally rectangular flat clasp members, one of said members having a first sleeve at one edge with a passage therethrough, a pair of movement limiting fingers extending in thickness out of one side of said one member and extending longitudinally beyond said sleeve; the other of said members having a pair of other sleeves at one edge thereof, said other sleeves being axially aligned with each with axially aligned passages therethrough, said first sleeve being interfitted between said other sleeves, an ornamental article having a pin extending through the passages in the interfitted sleeves, a catch on one side of said article detachably engaging a free end of the pin projecting beyond the interfitted sleeves, whereby said ornamental article conceals said clasp members when said ornamental article is worn at the back of the neck of a person with the clasp members juxtaposed to the persons neck, said fingers abutting the other member permitting relative movement of the members in one direction only, and a necklace having opposite ends attached to opposite outer edges of said members.

4. A clasp and ornament for a necklace, comprising a pair of generally rectangular flat clasp members, one of said members having a first sleeve at one edge with a passage therethrough, a pair of movement limiting fingers extending in thickness out of one side of said one member and extending longitudinally beyond said sleeve; the other of said members having a pair of other sleeves at one edge thereof, said other sleeves being axially aligned with each other with axially aligned passages therethrough, said first sleeve being interfitted between said other sleeves, an ornamental article having a pin extencling through the passages in the interfitted sleeves, a catch on one side of said article detachably engaging a free end of the pin projecting beyond the interfitted sleeves, whereby said ornamental article conceals said clasp members when said ornamental article is worn at the back of the neck of a person with the clasp members juxtaposed to the persons neck, said fingers abutting the other member permitting relative movement of the members in one direction only, said members having holes at outer edges thereof, and a necklace having opposite ends attached in the holes in said members, the edges of said members at said sleeves being beveled to facilitate pivotable movement of the other member at said side of said article to conform to irregularities in said one side of said article.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 387,886 8/88 Jones 16191 1,045,851 12/12 Johnson 16l91 2,123,704 7/38 Meissner 63-2 X 2,274,269 2/42 Jellinek 63-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 902,346 12/44 France.

RICHARD C. PINKI-IAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CLASP AND ORNAMENT FOR A NECKLACE, COMPRISING A PAIR OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FLAT CLASP MEMBERS, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A FIRST SLEEVE AT ONE EDGE WITH A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, A PAIR OF MOVEMENT LIMITING FINGERS EXTENDING IN THICKNESS OUT OF ONE SIDE OF SAID ONE MEMBER AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY BEYOND SAID SLEEVE; THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A PAIR OF OTHE SLEEVES AT ONE EDGE THEREOF, SAID OTHER SLEEVES BEING AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH EACH OTHER WITH AXIALLY ALIGNED PASSAGES THERETHROUGH, SAID FIRST SLEEVE BEING INTERFITTED BETWEEN SAID OTHER SLEEVES, AN ORNAMENTAL ARTICLE HAVING A PIN EXTENDING THROUGH THE PASSAGES IN THE INTERFITTED SLEEVES, A CATCH ON ONE SIDE OF SAID ARTICLE DETACHABLY ENGAGING A FREE END OF THE PIN PROJECTING BEYOND THE INTERFITTED SLEEVES, WHEREBY SAID ORNAMENTAL ARTICLE CONCEALS SAID CLASP MEMBERS WHEN SAID ORNAMENTAL ARTICLE IS WORN AT THE BACK OF THE NECK OF A PERSON ON A NECKLACE WITH THE CLASP MEMBERS JUXTAPOSED TO THE PERSON''S NECK, SAID FINGERS ABUTTING THE OTHER MEMBER PERMITTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE MEMBERS IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY, SAID MEMBERS HAVING HOLES AT OUTER EDGES THEREOF, AND A NECKLACE HAVING ATTACHING MEANS AT OPPOSITE ENDS ENGAGED IN THE HOLES IN SAID MEMBERS. 